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Lois Olson Trost

B.Thursday, April 10, 1924D.Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Lois Olson Trost

Lois Olson Trost passed away on July 10, 2018 at the age of 94. Born Lois Eleanor Olson on April 10, 1924 on the family farm in Atwater, MN, where her grandparents, the Olsons and the Ericksons, had settled when they immigrated from Sweden in 1870.

Born to Harry and Lillie Olson, Lois was the third of four daughters. Lois was baptized and confirmed in the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atwater, baptized by Reverend LeVander, whose son Harold later became governor of MN. Lois graduated from Atwater High School in 1942 and attended Business College in Minneapolis. Lois was employed at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis and at the University of MN Dental School, where she met her husband, James Trost of Rochester, when he was a dental student. Lois and Jim were married February 9, 1946 in the home of Jim's uncle, in Hollywood, CA, during the time Jim served in the Navy Dental Corps at the Alameda Naval Air Station in Oakland, CA. After Jim's service in Korea, they returned to Rochester in 1947 where Jim joined his father's dental practice. Lois and Jim raised their five children in Rochester, and were married 59 years before Jim's death in May 2005. Lois was a member and past president of the Zumbro Valley Dental Auxiliary, the first President of the Rochester Mrs. Jaycees (1951), served on the YWCA Board and Century Club, was a Cub Scout and Brownie Scout leader, served in school PTAs, taught Sunday school, and was an active member of Zumbro Lutheran Church (Sarah Circle) all of her adult life. When Lois wasn't busy with all her other activities and her family, she enjoyed playing bridge with her friends. Lois loved to travel and especially enjoyed her many trips with family and friends to Israel, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, western Europe, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico. When world travel became too difficult, Lois continued to visit family in Michigan, Florida and Washington state.

Lois is survived by her children: Karen (Greg) DeZiel of Escanaba, Michigan; Christine Trost (Bill Mantis), of St. Paul; Edward (Anne) Trost of Rochert, MN; Catherine (Larry) Blackett of Sammamish, WA; and Laura Trost (partner James Rasmussen) of Rochester. Lois is also survived by seven grandsons, many nieces and nephews, and one sister, Doris Olson Jensen, of Bellevue, WA. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her two older sisters. Lois will be remembered as a wonderful mother, aunt, grandmother and friend.

She was hard-working, competent, dedicated, and had a fun sense of humor. Lois was proud of her Swedish heritage and loved celebrating a Scandinavian Christmas. Lois made the most beautiful Christmas cookies! She was also a gardener who passed along her appreciation for home-grown tomatoes and fresh garden food to her kids. Lois was a rare combination of common sense and fun, someone who would bake a casserole for a neighbor, work all day long, laugh at her own jokes, and who taught us to dance in the kitchen. We will miss her!

A celebration of Lois' life will be held Friday, August 10, 2018 at 11am at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, with visitation one hour prior to the service and luncheon following the service. Interment will be private at Grandview Cemetery. Funeral arrangements through Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home. Lois requests any memorials to the YWCA or Zumbro Lutheran Church. The Trost family is grateful to the wonderful staff at Bellemoor at The Homestead for the compassionate care they provided in Lois' final year.

Arrangements are being handled by Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600